A PARTICLE COUNTING AND DNA UPTAKE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTION, ASSESSMENT AND FURTHER ANALYSIS OF THREATS DUE TO NEBULIZED BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

摘要

The Nebulized Airborne Biohazard Stage Alert (NABSA) is a method utilizin g an optical particle counter in conjunction with a fluorometer as triggers to detect and assess potential biohazard threats infused into surrounding ai r. In the first stage an optical particle counter is constantly passing samp led air in front of an energy source, in turn scattering light. This scatter ed light is evaluated to establish if the particles are above one micrometer in concentrations, and thus potentially an aerosolized threat. Such detecti on triggers the secondary stage in which the sample particles are tested for viability via processing through a dye with fluorescent properties affected when bonded with an entity universally found in all biological substances a nd a UV light source. The detection of concentrations of oversized, viable p articles triggers the third stage to compare a sample of the particles to kn own biowarfare agents to delineate the specific agent species.